On the ground

Car rental in Kosovo & Albania: what you need at the desk

Yes, you can rent a car at both Prishtina (PRN) and Tirana (TIA) airports: rental desks are in or next to the arrivals area.
Bring your licence, your passport and a physical credit card in the main driver's name. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is worth carrying, and US licence holders driving in Albania should carry one.
Driving a rental between Kosovo and Albania needs the rental company's written permission, and usually a cross-border fee.

Checked 22 Oct 2026. Every fact is labelled Verified, Estimate or Unknown and links to its source. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice.

Licence and International Driving Permit

Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Kosovo: the road traffic law says a vehicle may be driven by a person with a valid driver's licence from Kosovo or a foreign country (Law No. 08/L-186, Article 231). Kosovo Law 08/L-186 on road traffic (PDF)
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Kosovo, UK licences: GOV.UK says a UK photocard licence is enough; with an old paper licence you may also need a 1969 IDP. GOV.UK: Kosovo travel advice
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Albania, US licences: the State Department says you can use a US or international driver's licence while non-resident, that IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention are accepted, and that an IDP can be used for one year. The US Embassy in Tirana says a US citizen can use a valid IDP issued in the United States. US State Department: Albania · US Embassy Tirana: driving
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Albania, UK licences: GOV.UK says you may find a 1968 IDP useful alongside your UK licence, that the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted, and that you can't buy an IDP outside the UK. Its advice for car hire is to check the rental company's requirements before you travel. GOV.UK: Albania travel advice
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Getting an IDP for a US licence: AAA says an IDP to use with a US driver's licence can only be issued in the USA, so get it before you leave. AAA: International Driving Permit
Unknown · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Note: GOV.UK and the State Department describe the accepted IDP type for Albania differently (1968 vs 1949). Your rental company's Rental Conditions decide what it accepts at the desk. GOV.UK: Albania · US State Department: Albania

Age, deposit and price

Estimate · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Minimum age: usually 18 to 21, set by each company. Drivers under 25 (and over 70 at some locations) often pay a young or senior driver fee at the desk, and most companies want your licence held for at least 1 to 2 years. DiscoverCars help: minimum age
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Deposit: at pick-up the company places a security hold on a physical credit card in the main driver's exact name. Virtual or phone wallets, prepaid cards and cash are generally not accepted for it, and the hold has to fit on one card. DiscoverCars help: payment options · DiscoverCars help: security deposits
Unknown · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Deposit amount and daily price: Unknown here. Both depend on the company, car and dates; check the Rental Conditions of the offer you pick. DiscoverCars help: security deposits

Crossing between Kosovo and Albania

Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Rental cars across the border: it's often allowed, but each company decides. You need its permission (some want 48 hours' notice so they can prepare documents such as a Green Card), there is usually a cross-border fee paid at the desk, and the permission should be written on your rental agreement. DiscoverCars help: other countries
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Kosovo is not part of the Green Card system. Vehicles registered in a country without an agreement with Kosovo must buy Kosovo border insurance (third-party liability) at the border crossing or online. Kosovo Insurance Bureau (BKS): border insurance · BKS: buy border insurance online · US State Department: Kosovo
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Albania and Kosovo recognise each other's compulsory motor insurance (MTPL): an Albanian-registered car with Albanian MTPL doesn't need Kosovo border insurance, and vice versa. Kosovo Insurance Bureau (BKS): border insurance
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Albania is in the Green Card system: GOV.UK says you must carry a Green Card as proof of insurance to drive your own car in Albania. GOV.UK: Albania travel advice
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Kosovo–Albania border crossings sometimes have delays, most often around holidays and in summer. GOV.UK: Kosovo travel advice

Driving in winter? Kosovo and Albania have winter equipment rules; see the winter driving guide.

Rental desks at the airports

Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Prishtina (PRN): rental counters are in the arrivals terminal, to the right after baggage claim, according to Enterprise's location page, which lists 08:00–23:45 opening hours. Enterprise: Pristina airport location
Verified · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Tirana (TIA): the airport's own website lists its car rental partners, at arrivals and outdoors. Enterprise's page says its office is inside the terminal. Tirana International Airport: car rentals · Enterprise: Tirana airport location

You don't need a comparison site: you can walk up to these desks or book with a local company directly.

Drive times from the airports

Estimate · checked on 22 Oct 2026 Route distance and time from the OSRM open-source router (OpenStreetMap data). No traffic and no border waits. OSRM

From	To	km	Time
Prishtina airport (PRN)	Prizren	~72	~70 min
Prishtina airport (PRN)	Peja	~74	~81 min
Tirana airport (TIA)	Durrës	~36	~35 min
Tirana airport (TIA)	Sarandë	~251	~4 h 4 min

Compare rental companies

If you'd rather see several companies' cars and conditions in one search, DiscoverCars compares them by airport. Prices, deposits and cross-border rules are shown per offer; check them before you book.

Prishtina airport (PRN) on DiscoverCars ↗Affiliate link Tirana airport (TIA) on DiscoverCars ↗Affiliate link

We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects what we recommend. How we work with partners.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Kosovo or Albania?

Kosovo's road law accepts a valid foreign licence. For Albania, the State Department says US citizens can drive on a US or international licence while non-resident, and GOV.UK suggests a 1968 IDP may be useful for UK drivers. Rental companies set their own rules, so check the Rental Conditions; carrying an IDP with your licence covers both cases.

Can I drive a rental car from Kosovo to Albania?

Often yes, but only with the rental company's permission, written on your agreement. Expect a cross-border fee at the desk, and tell the company early: some need about 48 hours to prepare documents.

Can I pay the deposit with a debit card?

Usually not. Most companies want a physical credit card in the main driver's name. A few accept debit cards, often with extra conditions; the offer's Rental Conditions say which.

What is Kosovo border insurance?

Kosovo isn't in the Green Card system, so foreign-registered vehicles from countries without an agreement must buy third-party border insurance when they enter, at the crossing or online via the Kosovo Insurance Bureau (BKS). Albanian-registered cars with Albanian MTPL are exempt.

How long is the drive from the airport?

Estimates without traffic: PRN to Prizren about 70 minutes, PRN to Peja about 80 minutes, TIA to Durrës about 35 minutes and TIA to Sarandë about 4 hours.

Do I have to book online?

No. Rental desks operate at both airports, and you can book with a local company directly. Comparison sites are one option for checking several companies at once.

Sources

Checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules change; always confirm with the official source before you travel.